Bird-watching is more than a hobby: A yearly survey of Puget Sound seabirds is making important contributions to science.
Volunteers with the Seattle Audubon Society helped researchers identify encouraging trends in 14 of 18 local seabird species studied. The organization is looking for experienced bird-watchers as it prepares for its ninth year of observations to build on those findings.
“Every year more data make all of the previous data more valuable,” said Toby Ross, Seattle Audubon’s science manager. “We’re not making conclusions that the (seabird) populations are doing better, just that they’re being found at more locations than when we started.”
This year’s survey is set to begin Oct. 3.
Bird-watchers perform 30-minute observations on the first Saturday every month, October through April. They look for species such as grebes, sea ducks and loons.
They head to designated spots spread from Deception Pass on Whidbey Island, to the Olympia waterfront and Cape Flattery on the Olympic Peninsula.
Local sites include two locations in Edmonds, Mukilteo Lighthouse Park, Everett’s Howarth Park and Kayak Point Park.
About 20 volunteers are needed to cover Snohomish County and north King County, Ross said.
“This is an annual project that we run,” he said. “We will always be recruiting at this time of year.”
Volunteers must be able to readily identify seabird species, but Ross said in some cases he can match volunteers with differing levels of experience.
Programs run by the Everett-based Pilchuck Audubon Society also generally require birding expertise, but there are exceptions, board President Kathleen Snyder said.
Novice bird-watchers are encouraged to participate in this year’s Christmas Bird Count. There’s one in the Edmonds area planned for Dec. 19 and another for the Everett and Marysville areas Jan. 2.
Pilchuck Audubon also can train people to count Vaux’s swifts as they enter the chimney at Wagner Center in Monroe during spring and fall migration. An event called Swifts Night Out is scheduled Sept. 12.
Pilchuck Audubon also organizes weekly and monthly field trips.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
Want to volunteer as a bird-watcher?
The Seattle Audubon Society is looking for experienced bird-watchers to help with a scientific survey of Puget Sound seabirds. (If you can’t tell the difference between a lesser scaup and a greater scaup, you will likely be assigned to a more-experienced team.)
Volunteers conduct a 30-minute survey on the first Saturday of each month, from October through April.
Learn more at www.seabirdsurvey.org or by emailing Toby Ross, Seattle Audubon Society science manager, at tobyr@seattleaudubon.org.
The Pilchuck Audubon Society has programs for experienced bird-watchers and novices. Newcomers might enjoy the group’s regular field trips, a program to count Vaux’s swifts in Monroe or the annual Christmas Bird Count.
For more information, call 425-610-8027 or go to www.pilchuckaudubon.org.
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